Glaucoma basics – pro

Acute narrow angle glaucoma (also called angle closure glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma) is one of the two basic categories of glaucoma. The other category is open angle glaucoma.

Although it affects less than 10 percent of patients with glaucoma, acute narrow angle glaucoma is the most serious form of the disease. The problem is often inherited and occurs more commonly in farsighted elderly people, particularly in women. It often occurs in both eyes. The chances of developing narrow angle glaucoma increase with age and are most prevalent in people in their 60s.

For open angle glaucome: Eye drops, commonly nonspecific beta-blocker or prostaglandin analog drops, generally are the first-line treatment to reduce intraocular pressure. Laser treatment and surgery usually are reserved for patients in whom medical treatment has failed.

However, for narrow angle galucoma surgical treatment is medically necessary. The treatment for this type of glaucoma is known as a peripheral iridectomy. This is a laser procedure that creates a new opening in the iris to allow the aqueous fluid to move more easily to the drainage site. The peripheral iridectomy is usually performed in the doctor’s office and is generally performed on both eyes because the risk of developing the condition in both eyes is high.

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